My 1898 Krag wants to shoot!!

[remington]

This 10 shot 2 1/4 inch group was fired with my newly acquired 1898 Krag rifle dating Jan. 1899, at 50 yards with my 85 year old eyes. The rear sight is an 1896. I had to raise the sight to 450 to get the shots into the black. At the lowest setting of the rear sight, fired shots went 6 inches low. The front sight blade is a 0.410. Does it make sense to replace it with a 0.285 which should make higher hits? Does anyone have original 0.285 replacement blades? The target was shot with 180 grain, 20-1 alloy, RCBS FN GC bullets sized to .309. The slugged bore measures .308. I purposely used published low velocity loads. This 2 1/4 group was with 23 grains of IMR 4198. I also tried 35.5 of 4895, 34.0 of 3031, 38.0 of 4064 and 35.5 of 4320. All of these were 5 shot groups, printing low shotgun groups, nothing even close to the 4198. 4064 was fair but a 3 3/4 inch low with a couple key holes. Others except the 4198 showed some key holing. I am going to increase velocity to see if it will group better at 50 yards, and then try 100 yards. Loads will be, 25.0 grains of 4198, 23.0 of SR4759 and 43.8 of 4350. Comments appreciated, especially about the front sight blade.

[Dick Hosmer]

Hope I can still use iron sights at 85 - which is ten years off.

Just kidding, but did you shoot the pinwheel first and then have trouble with "the buck"??? [big grin]

[psteinmayer]

Not too shabby... I can't speak about the height of the front sight, but in my 1898, my accuracy improved when I switched from 180 grain to 165 grain boattails. I usually load with Hornady bullets because their 165 grain boattails have a crimp ring, which is essential in my Krags (bullets without crimps will push back into the case when cycled from the magazine in both of my Krags). I actually plan to try shooting a 150 grain full metal jacket (ala 30-06 ball) to see if I can improve on my accuracy. With the 165s and my 1902 rear sight, I can shoot 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards... and a couple times, I actually shot 1-2 inch.

[butlersrangers]

remington: Too bad about the "flier" in the middle of the 10 Ring. It really opened-up your group! Nice shooting - keep having fun. I would not worry about the height of the front blade until you see where your rifle groups at 100 yards.

[Kirk]

I'd leave thr front sight alone since you are using reduced loads. I typically have to set the sights at 500-550 yds on M1903 rifles to zero them at 100 yds when using reduced loads & cast bullets. If you shorten the front sight and then go back to full loads, you'll have the opposite problem - impact too high & no way to lower them.

[mjanway]

S&S Firearms has them. They are listed as original Krag front sight blades.

Jack

[reincarnated]

I think your rifle is telling you to use powders at least as fast as 4198 with your cast bullets. I also think the 4350 load will be a waste of time. The SR 4759 load may show promise. You might approach loads with either 4227 or 2400 with a LOT of caution.